best actuarial program in usa

[Devorak]

are you all from canada? no waterloooooooooo this time.

[42]

HRMPH! :evil: OK, I can take a hint. (shuffle, shuffle, shuffle ... slam!)

[Dr T Non-Fan]

Life insurance companies. Get paid to take exams, instead of doing the amateur thing for four years.
I hear P&C companies are pretty generous as well.

[sb_jim]

I would take a look at Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. Maybe Georgia State, Texas, Ball State or Indiana if you're in the area. Best program doesn't make much sense in this field, it's not like getting accepted to a top Law or B-school. You need to finish the degree and pass some exams, no one really cares that you even went to an actuarial school. It's for you and how you want to launch your career.

The two year MS was a great experience for me because I made a mid-life career change and needed the update in degree. If you have the money and 2 years to spare, go where it feels best and maybe close to where you want to work when you're done.

(edit: I forgot Drake, a very nice program if you can afford it)

[Anonymous]

Around here, Life and P&C Companies pay better. However, the study programs are usually more intense from what I've seen. If you want to get study hours and have a chance to live a less stressful life, I'd consider health companies as well. And, of course, college is always the best place for learning. I've heard good things about Iowa and Ball State, but would never go there myself.

[aces219]

I would take a look at Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. Maybe Georgia State, Texas, Ball State or Indiana if you're in the area. Best program doesn't make much sense in this field, it's not like getting accepted to a top Law or B-school. You need to finish the degree and pass some exams, no one really cares that you even went to an actuarial school. It's for you and how you want to launch your career.

The two year MS was a great experience for me because I made a mid-life career change and needed the update in degree. If you have the money and 2 years to spare, go where it feels best and maybe close to where you want to work when you're done.

(edit: I forgot Drake, a very nice program if you can afford it)

Drake was actually cheaper for me to attend than Illinois or Iowa would have been. They actually give merit-based aid, unlike large state schools. My Drake experience was fantastic.

[jhg858]

I would take a look at Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. Maybe Georgia State, Texas, Ball State or Indiana if you're in the area. Best program doesn't make much sense in this field, it's not like getting accepted to a top Law or B-school. You need to finish the degree and pass some exams, no one really cares that you even went to an actuarial school. It's for you and how you want to launch your career.

The two year MS was a great experience for me because I made a mid-life career change and needed the update in degree. If you have the money and 2 years to spare, go where it feels best and maybe close to where you want to work when you're done.

(edit: I forgot Drake, a very nice program if you can afford it)

You also forgot Temple.

[Lucy]

Wharton used to have a very strong program.

[jerrytuttle]

How do we measure the best program?

Actuarial ranking in US News and World Report?

Number of SOA and CAS fellows on the faculty?

How about: average number of actuarial exams passed at graduation date? Does this data exist anywhere publicly?

[42]

How do we measure the best program?Sounds like somebody needs to start a poll on this. :wink:

[Dr T Non-Fan]

You should determine number of FSA/FCAS within, say 5 years of graduation, divided by total number of ActSci graduates.

What you get during the program shouldn't be more important than what you take with you out of it. Getting that head start would boost this statistic, though.

This statistic also punishes a program that discourages ActSci's from pursuing the field.

[Devorak]

You should determine number of FSA/FCAS within, say 5 years of graduation, divided by total number of ActSci graduates.

It is not easy to get those numbers though.

What you get during the program shouldn't be more important than what you take with you out of it. Getting that head start would boost this statistic, though.

This statistic also punishes a program that discourages ActSci's from pursuing the field.

Agree.

[Ducklin]

So, you believe that it is not important from which school you have studied actuarial science?

[sb_jim]

Exactly. Especially when you consider that most practicing actuaries did not go to an actuarial science school at all. I would still avoid small, backwater, not well accredited schools.

[Jack]

I would go to the best college in your state or city university system.
For example, if you live in NY go to Barauch for 2-3k per year and take the night review classes at the College of Insurance for the early exams.

You will graduate from college with at least two exams and no student loans.

Also, I would advise against actually majoring in actuarial science. You may find after working for a few years that you hate the profession. A degree in math, econcomics, or computer science may be more desirable to non-actuarial employers. Like sb-jim said, few practicing actuaries in the US (Canada's different) were educated at colleges with actuarial science programs.